SAS Ankeny NWR Field Trip Report
ung...@gmail.com
SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY
September 20, 2025
Today's Salem Audubon birding field trip at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge brought together Paul, me, and twelve other enthusiastic birders. We enjoyed pleasant weather with clear skies and temperatures ranging from 52 to 70 degrees throughout the morning. Conditions remained calm for most of the trip, with winds increasing slightly to 5–8 mph late in the outing. Our day began with a brief birding session at the nature center, followed by stops at Eagle Marsh and Pintail Marsh. At Pintail Marsh, we walked 1.46 miles all the way to the back edge at Mohoff Marsh—a trek that took around two hours to complete. During the excursion, the group observed 51 species by sight or sound, with 41 species recorded specifically at Pintail and Mohoff Marshes. This year's total was slightly less than last year's count of 58 species, but the variety and quality of sightings made for another memorable experience.
Most notable sightings:
· The standout sightings today were a Sora and several Wilson’s Snipes at Eagle Marsh. We heard the Sora calling along the trail on the east side of the marsh, adding a unique highlight to our walk. The snipes were located at the far back end of Eagle Marsh, with another snipe observed at Pintail Marsh, making for excellent shorebird observations on this outing.
· Numerous migrants were present around the refuge, including an Osprey, Western Wood-Pewee, Common Yellowthroat, and several swallows, the majority of which were Barn Swallow. Fresh arrivals for the season included Lincoln’s Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Cackling Goose, marking the ongoing fall migration at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.
· Duck diversity remained low during the field trip, with only three species recorded: Mallards (estimated at 205), Northern Pintail (1), and Northern Shoveler (10). These numbers are consistent with typical early autumn observations at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge before peak migration brings a broader mix of waterfowl to the area.
· During the outing, a total of five raptor species were observed, with the most notable being a late Osprey still lingering at the refuge. Other raptors included Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel, alongside sightings of Turkey Vultures soaring overhead. Bald Eagles and the Prairie Falcon that was spotted nearby recently were not seen during this trip.
· Shorebirds and waterfowl observed during the trip included several Green Herons, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitchers, Killdeer, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Western Sandpipers. These sightings complemented the previously mentioned notable Sora and Wilson’s Snipes, highlighting the rich shorebird diversity at the refuge this season.
· Other notable sightings included a Black Phoebe and Belted Kingfisher; both commonly associated with the refuge’s wetland habitats. Woodpeckers also made an appearance, along with four Anna’s Hummingbirds energetically competing over the nectar feeder at the nature center, adding lively moments to the visit.
The eBird checklists and Trip Report links follow. Our next SAS bird walk is on Monday, September 29th at 8:00 AM at Illahe Hills CC. Registered participants should meet in front of the Country Club entrance at 8:00 AM. Please Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse! Please contact the leader at paule...@gmail.com to confirm your registration for this trip.
Minto-Brown Island Park on Tuesday, October 7th at 9:00 AM. (Note time change!) Meet in parking lot #3 at the end of Minto Island Road SE.
Please join us if you can.
Mike Unger
Keizer, Oregon
Ankeny NWR Checklist Summary for September 20, 2025
Number of Species: 51
Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Ankeny NWR-Ankeny Hill Nature Center 7:23 AM
(2): Ankeny NWR-Eagle Marsh 7:59 AM
(3): Ankeny NWR-Pintail Marsh 8:46 AM
eBird checklist links:
Nature Center – https://ebird.org/checklist/S274450884
Eagle Marsh – https://ebird.org/checklist/S274463367
Pintail Marsh – https://ebird.org/checklist/S274562298
eBird Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/413567